I have been trying to think of a way to put this without sounding too harsh, but it is just not…read morepossible. Oracle actually makes me feel sick and scrunch up my face in disbelief. It is a bar / restaurant / night club on the waterfront of the river that unfortunately, like so many other bars and clubs, is a cattle market parading around falsely as a sophisticated night out. On a busy night, it is like drowning in a pond of glow stick fluid while bright orange practically naked women pout at you like delirious tropical fish from all angles (see photo of 'sexy santas'). Meanwhile the lazily produced monotonous drones of music repeatedly flick you in the face like an annoying little brother, provoking a tiresome and frustrating headache. Oblivious to any of this, it oozes with pretense, and goes about it's not-even-tactful patriarchal ways as grinning goofy men swagger around trying to look cool and control what's hopefully hidden in their trousers. The only valid reason for going here would be for comedy value, if you can stomach it.

So, Oracle has reopened during the day and I for one was very happy about this…read more If ever anyone would ask me where to go for a burger in Leeds i would have previously not hesitated in recommending this place. The menu however has now changed! And I'm not happy. The speciality here used the be their almighty burgers and the selection was fab,it has been cut down now to a very minimal selection on the menu. :-( My friend and I went for lunch last week and I was surprised to see 2/3 tables of people in there- all eating. As it's down Brewery Wharf it's pretty tucked away so some days I have been in and no other customers have been in the place. This makes the bar space a cavernous and very cold place. The bar is nice and airy, very light with the floor to ceiling windows and features lots of 'bling' style decor touches. Anyway, back to lunch. We were greeted cheerily and seated wherever we wanted. She explained the 'burger lunch special' only featured skinny fries and not wedges or sweet potatoes as says on the usual menu. Other than that its a very good deal. We ordered and sat back to people watch. There seems to be more staff here than is necessary and no-one doing too much. The manager was doing paperwork in one of the booths and another male member of staff seemed to be doing very little except stomping around flexing his muscles. May suit the evening ambiance of this place but not at lunchtime love- I'm waiting to eat! The food came quite quickly and as we had sat opposite the kitchen hatch we saw it was all freshly prepared. We'd ordered the BBQ Ranch burger, the chicken bacon & avocado burger and some cheesy garlic bread. The garlic bread was lovely- very soft ciabatta and cheesy cheese- not overly garlicky so very nice. The burgers were well presented and the portion of fries were HUGE! My chicken burger was minced chicken- a strange consistency really and the guacamole didn't really do much for it. Overall it was OK but I left about a third of it. The ranch burger was nicer, large fresh onion rings and a sweet BBQ sauce provided with it were a great addition. The fries were nice and crisp and overall it was a pleasant lunch. A couple of things let this place down- The dodgy background music The excess of staff doing little to nothing The coldness in the place I wouldn't say I'd now rave about the burgers there but it's going to be one of them places to keep in the back of my mind if I want a filling burger lunch.

Sitting proudly in the iconic Calls Landing building, this little restaurant and bar is cool and…read moreinviting. Billed as a stew and oyster kitchen, the menu does not apologise for offering a limited choice. Nor should it, the quality of the food more than justifies this. I have been to this somewhat hidden away place for stew on numerous occasions and have never been disappointed. The specials board displays the chalked up daily fare, and recently I have enjoyed a Cumberland sausage and root vegetable casserole topped with seeds, natural yogurt, cheese and rocket. The quality of the meat was apparent, the vegetables were beautifully caramelised and the topping added that extra flavour and texture. The oysters are presented in a small counter packed with crushed ice, and are accompanied with a variety of dressings when served. Calls Landing also offer cheeses and cold meats, this antipasti providing the ideal partner to a tipple or two. On the bar, inviting barrels of succulent olives nestle up to an attractive array of cupcakes. The bar is always adorned with wonderful cask ales on draught, I have renewed my love of the Bishops Finger ale as a result of this. Bottled beers, wines and spirits are also well stocked and varied. Locality of ales and produce is of the utmost importance here, which is wonderful to see. I can not speak highly enough of this sister venue to lovely Leeds based shop Simpsons, the highest of my accolades it does receive.

This is a pleasant, unassuming real ale pub halfway between, say, the Leeds Royal Armouries and the…read morecity centre. The inside is not so special, but there's a terrace from which you have a nice view onto the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. The selection of hand-pumped real ales is very good indeed, and the beers themselves are well-kept and always fresh. Prices are moderate. Staff are usually nice and helpful. A bit off the beaten track, but worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

I just can't think of a flaw for this place. The one danger that I fear is the regular Call Lane…read morelot will get their hands on it, but I like to think the vibe would set them straight. (I've had plenty of good nights on Call Lane, but it's not generally my crowd.) I've been in several times since it's opened and I'm a real fan of the staff. The chap that owns the place is lovely and has put a lot of love and care into the drinks list and layout. The young lass that works there has got ace banter and she's a pleasure to chat with! Love the romantic window seats and the low lighting actually enhances the feel, rather than just give you sore eyes because let's make every bar almost un-visible because, standard. Absolutely adore the building and the fact it's so stripped down -- feels properly like an old Victorian house when you wander upstairs to the toilets. Don't forget the hidden garden. I imagine it'll be amazing when the weather properly warms up, with all the fairylights, secret walled in feeling, and outdoor bar. The drinks list is fantastic too. Often, if somewhere aims for a jack of all, it can be a miss. I'd say the cocktail list is solid and they go off menu if you want. Love the decent range of craft beer and I'd trust them to surprise me if I wanted to try something new. Favourite new place. Cosy, cool, not try hard, great drinks, incredible building, and fab staff.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Roland's…read more They are close to the top of the list for the best Espresso Martini in Leeds and they have a really relaxed lovely atmosphere. Open brick work, cocktails and papers/magazines on the bar for your perusal. This place really needs to be enjoyed and is a great place to relax on a Sunday afternoon/evening.

I'm visiting from America and my friends brought me here for some drinks and we had the BEST time!…read moreThe atmosphere was exciting and fun, the drinks were delicious and everyone was up dancing and singing to the music! I wish we had places like this at home, it would be my go to place anytime I want to party! Thank you for a memorable experience!!

The Stew and Oyster bar can be found behind the Riverplate in the Calls Landing building on Call…read moreLane in the centre of Leeds. We discovered this place only last night, having lived opposite it for nearly 18 months. All I can say is we have been missing out and I cannot believe we didn't find this place earlier. It's a small, compact little pub with soft lighting overlooking the river. Exposed brickwork and steal beams are present, preserved from the buildings history, creating an incredible atmosphere. There is a great selection of bottled and pump beers, as well as spirits and wines. We didn't try the oysters; we had the (pork) stew instead. At £5.50 for a large portion with crusty bread you can't go wrong. The service was good, it wasn't too busy and the mood was great. One critism is that from their choice of 3 deserts, none of them were left! I can only assume this was a one off, but we will definitely be returning.

Good experience Good service…read moreGood food I recommend for a unique experience that I think you'll enjoy

The idea of Smokestack is a Speakeasy design. Basically that means small, dimly lit with dark…read morefurniture. Extensive, averagely priced cocktail list. I tried a Caipirinha priced at £8. Unfortunately it was pretty awful. The worst Caipirinha I've ever tasted. And I've had a lot of them! Better sticking to wine/beer options, avoid the cocktails!

Biased and heavily rotarised staff. Preference of the "sensible" which is highly off-putting, as is…read moretheir language and psychological barriers. Not enjoyable to drink to at all with their lack of empathy. Yikes.

Were a declaration of love to be made to this pub, it would only be fair that it came fully attired…read morein some kind of grunge-y dress, loose long hair, a pint of their finest ale in one hand, and possibly a banjo or kazoo in the other. That might not make much sense, but until you've snuck in through the doors, and beseated yourself at their bar, you probably won't get what I'm talking about. It's a place of excellent real ales, fantastic old school proper pub décor, the most friendly and chilled out bar staff, and some of Leeds' finest rock and acoustic music. I'll admit, I'm not even nearly regular enough to describe the range of bands that play here, but every time I hear of a gig I regret not having made it across town to sup amongst the regulars and musos. Cross Cut Saw play here, for goodness' sake. (And if you've not had the pleasure of their fine sounds, you're missing out.) They've recently (although how recent, I couldn't say) had a beer garden extension out the back, and it's a fantastic little enclosure. I mean enclosure, as you're safely gated in from the flotsam and jetsum that might wander by on Kirkgate, and safely ensconsed in a space decorated by decking, cool shaded benches, interestingly arranged architecture where old-mysterious iron stairs meet new build high rises, and a piano bursting with plant life. The old outhouse loo still remains. For real. Those with a thirst can sup on a range of local and guest ales, from dark to light, and if you're feeling fruity there's always a Southern Comfort and coke. Do not call it Soco, no one will serve you. (Well, they probably would, but you'd lose my respect - if that counts for anything.) Be wary not to make the same mistake I did, and wander into the men's instead of out the back door. That was embarrassing. On our recent visit, post Yelp supper club at Tong Palace, we were even served after last orders because the bar lady forgot we'd snuck outside to drink. There's not many a pub that'd be so kind these days. Come the winter months, when the weather turns, you'll struggle to find as cosy a spot, complete with brilliant beardy old ale-ers, students, music lovers, and general good folk. It's a keeper.

There are so many levels at which I've fallen in love with this fabulous new bar. From the…read moreprohibition-style hidden entrance, obvious only to those in the know or savvy passers-by, to the classy, simply attired interior, to the fantastic staff, who offer up cocktails of the highest order. It almost feels like the 'bar'(wo)man's bar, since every detail in the drinks are so meticulous - they take obvious pride in what they provide, and that alone is commendable. (And also worlds apart from some of the other 'cocktail' orientated places you can find.) If you've not been along yet, expect tea cups attached to glass stems, Victorian perfumery bottles enveloping absinthe, blowtorches and flammable powders, alongside a back bar of cocktail dreams, a multitude of fruit and a selection of damned good beers. I've been back several times since the opening night and have enjoyed every last drop of liquid that I've consumed within. The music was fantastic as well, with a more electronica-infused soundtrack from the DJ on the Friday, and a lively 80s mix on the Saturday. (Think Chaka Khan, "Ain't Nobody".) Of course, mention must be made of the fantastic staff that serve their libations until 4am. (Not every night, I don't think, but that's their licence.) Every one of them has been fantastic; friendly, full of banter, expert at mixing up the drinks and each and every one of them looks ruddy dapper to boot. It's a class act. Essentially, don't just take my word for it. Check 'em out for yourselves. Most of the cocktails on the list will set you back about £7, which might be steep for some, but once you get a taste you'll know why you came.

I first heard about The Maven, which opened just a month ago, through a friend of mine who works at…read moreMilo bar over the road. In fact, apart from the lucky few people who got invited to the launch party, it seemed a pretty well kept secret. You could pass the stairway on the street and not notice the sign, and with the bar being off street level, it's not somewhere that would attract random passers by 'drawn in' by the atmosphere. Therefore, it needs to be good.... Well it's in a great location for a start. Bars seemed to have opened in every crack in the pavement on Call Lane, and just when you think there's no space left, The Maven start from the next level up. I went in on a Tuesday night with a couple of friends at about 9pm and we were the only ones in the bar at this point (although not for long). We weren't even sure it was open at first as the doors upstairs were closed but as we pushed our way in, the barman was welcoming and we grabbed a seat while he got us a menu. I'm a big fan of candlelight and table service in bars, and I wasn't disappointed here. We ordered a bottle of wine and our glasses were topped up for us without this being intrusive. I hope for his sake he wasn't listening to our conversation too closely anyway... There is an extensive cocktail list and I noticed some delicious sounding sharing platters on the menu (mmmm cheese). They even run a quiz night on the first Monday of the month. As the venue is brand new, everything is looking fresh and clean. I'd be interested to see what it's like when it's busier, and if it keeps the relaxed vibe as well as great drinks and great service. All in all, an impressive addition to Call Lane. I hope it does well!

How have I not review BrewDog yet?! Wowsers. Sometimes they slip under the cracks, right?…read more So, if you know me at all, you know I love beer. And beer for punks is right up my street. And when I heard the noise about BrewDog coming to Leeds I was incredibly excited. I have to admit, I had a bit of northern-city-rivalry in my head when Manchester got there first, but that's old news now we've been graced by the Scottish beer rebels. The venue itself is pretty pokey, but that's not to say that you can't all pack in and share the love. The downstairs is rustic, almost industrial, and makes great use of the cool features of the space - a winding metal staircase, a long table to sit at together, some bar stools, and a few cosy chairs in the corners of the room. The theme is continued upstairs, with cool little booths, rustic décor, and a nautical style door to the loos. (Which are unisex.) The venue is so small their 'cellar' is actually stored in the rafters above the upper floor, so every now and then a member of staff has to climb up there, which is always amusing! It has to be said, I was already a BrewDog beer fan, but having it on tap is pretty fantastic. They manage to keep the draught exciting, and have changing guest beers if you're after something different, alongside a host of their own interesting brews. I'm a hardcore Punk IPA fan for the hoppy goodness, but if you're after something a little stronger, there's plenty to ask the staff about. Most of the staff are fantastic too, and mega friendly when it comes to chat. As standard, they know their stuff. The soundtrack is often on the punk and alternative side, which of course fits the theme - I'm pretty sure I got to listen to some CKY last time I was there. (Or maybe I imagined that?!) I've yet to indulge in their meat and cheese boards, but they look pretty delicious, and round off the experience of good beer, good food, and good times. I've yet to have a sub-par experience here - the staff, beer, and atmosphere make it yet another solid spot for awesome drinking times in Leeds. Just what this area of Call Lane needed! Of course, it does hit the wallet a little more than other spots, but if I'm honest I reckon it's in-line with most of the bars I frequent. You get what you pay for, and you pay for good brews here. In my humblest opinion! Basically, if you've been under a rock and haven't had a pint in this place yet, get there stat and lemme know what you think.

For ale lovers and it's great that staff know their beers. When we first stumbled on this place we…read morecouldn't decide what to have so it was great that staff were helpful and knew their ales. Its a small but friendly and relaxed place even on a Saturday night the crowds seemed far far away. There's an upstairs bit with more seating and games.

On the site of one of the cities best loved fish & chip shops Leeds Brewery has opened its 6th city…read morecetre effort, and by golly it's a far cry away from all that has come before it. The smart, clean yet pedestrian look & feel that is the signature of its other pubs is gone and instead the guys behind it have gone for what I can only describe as a younger, more bar-like feel... I was there at the opening on Friday and my first thoughts were that it reminds me a little of a combination of Call Lane Social and Jakes Bar with a smattering of The Adelphi for good measure. Unclad brickwork, wooden floors, period bookcases making up the bar... some might see it as grungy (in a bad way), I choose to see it as what it really is - a pub with personality that is striving to be different. And this doesn't end with the decor, the staff are a bunch of smiling happy young people who really add to the feel of the place; though it does appear that it may be the first bar job for a few of the guys and girls behind the bar, and I'm hoping that training and experience will square away some of the more crazy teething problems that were experienced on the opening nights (a large vodka and coke being delivered in a pint glass for example). The drinks are what you would expect and match the other pubs from the Brewery, which is to say they have some really good Leeds Brewery ales supported by guest ales from around the country, finished off with a random selection of lagers, ciders and spirits to complete the offering. Whilst I've not yet been in and tried the full food menu, if the finger food on the opening night was anything to go by then I'm expecting the usual high standard of freshly prepared grub to be coming out of the kitchen to delight the tastebuds. I'm assured that the fish & chip heritage of the site will not be followed through and that battered sausages will not be making an appearance on the menu. The only real negative about the pub is the location, it's about 3 minutes walk out of the city centre's centre, and in an area that most I've talked to have described as 'rough'... we, and more importantly Leeds Brewery, can only hope that The Crowd of Favours marks step one in having rid of this impression for the whole area - either way, the young trendy crowd that were propping up the bar on Saturday definitely seemed not to care too much about how it, as they danced to the DJs tunes until they were thrown out at closing!

Visited Leeds from Chicago for a month, and Crowd of Favours became my favorite of the pubs I had…read morevisited. Not pretentious, the staff was very welcoming, and we had Sunday brunch twice during my visit, and all attending thought it was quite good.. Saw O Brother, Where Art Thou on a secret cinema night, and it was a great time. Came the next week and drank white Russians while watching The Big Lebowski. It's a great, warm place and I hope I get to go again.